The Natural History Museum is one of the top destinations for a family day out in London. The entrance hall with the huge dinosaur skeleton is well known and never ceases to amaze.
It is a huge place, so it is advisable to visit only a couple of different zones to really enjoy the place. You will find the helpers in red fleeces very knowledgeable and able to point you in the right direction (which is necessary because the maps are not very detailed).
The most popular zone by far is the Dinosaur Zone. It has an impressive start to it, with a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops. You then climb steps to cross the sky walk. This gives you a great view of all the displays. Towards the end you will come across animatronic dinosaurs which are very impressive, but a bit scary for the younger ones. The only down side is that due to the one way system, once you are in this zone, you have to keep going if you want to leave. There are no short cuts. Also, be warned that the last exhibit shows Dinosaur themed toys and surprise, surprise the exit faces the toy shop. A good marketing ploy for the museum but infuriating for parents.
Look out for the “Focus Points” where staff allow children to learn about the exhibits through touch and games. They are a good way of bringing some of the displays to life, because there are limited interactive exhibits (although the number is growing).
There are good changing facilities and a spacious kid friendly cafe.
Great fun, especially for kids aged 4 and above.
What are your top tips for a trip to the Natural History Museum? Please share them here
Tags: Family Days Out, Kids London, London_kids, Natural_History_Museum
